These students made it because they leaned on each other, believed in themselves and most important, didn’t let fear win, said Jhan Frias, one of two class speakers.
Frias lumped the world into three types of people: those who make things happen, those who watch what’s happening and those who don’t know what’s happening.
As seniors, they were in the third, “don’t know” group, he said. Now they are cast into the real world, where they must choose to become doers, not watchers.
“As graduates, we need to know that we cannot let our fears turn us into those who watch things happen,” he said.
“When our fears are put aside, we can overcome any challenge put ahead of us.” The other class speaker, Candida DePina Alves, looked back and realized that there was a plan all along.
Like that seemingly miserable camping trip, the one where there were no showers, the weather was awful and the students were grouped outside their cliques? Chalk that up to “learning experience.”
“Even though the whole process was complicated, looking back, it all makes sense,” she said.
The audience roasting inside Brown University’s Salomon Hall yesterday afternoon agreed with cheers as they fanned themselves with their event programs. Occasionally, one of the graduates took off their green or black cap to use as a fan.
Every Feinstein student has plans after graduation and all intend to continue their education. “Not many high schools can boast that all the young people graduating have plans beyond graduation. You are to be commended,” said Deputy School Supt. Tomas Hanna.
dbarbari@projo.com
